Assessor_New_V4 PCI SSC Assessor_New_V4 Exam Free Practice Exam Questions (2025 Updated)

According to the PCI DSS v3.2.1 Quick Reference Guide1, an internal NTP server that provides time services to the cardholder data environment is in scope for PCI DSS if it stores processes or transmits cardholder data, regardless of whether it provides authentication services to systems in the DMZ or not. This is one of the requirements for preventing unauthorized access to cardholder data using time services.

According to requirement 3.1.2, an assessment with at least one requirement marked as Not Tested is considered a partial assessment, which means it does not meet all the requirements and controls defined in Appendix E of the PCI DSS v3.2.1 Quick Reference Guide1. This is one of the requirements for ensuring that assessments are conducted in accordance with PCI DSS.

The Secure SLC standard is one of the two standards that are part of the PCI Software Security Framework (SSF), which provides security requirements and assessment procedures for software vendors to integrate into their software development lifecycles and to validate that secure lifecycle management practices are in place12. The Secure SLC standard is designed to offer a more flexible approach to how the security and integrity of payment software is tested, and to address the evolving threat landscape and changes in software development practices3.

The PCI DSS Requirement 6 states that entities must develop and maintain secure systems and applications, and it includes several sub-requirements that cover variousaspects of software security, such as change control, secure coding, vulnerability management, and patching4. By using custom software that is compliant with the Secure SLC standard, an entity may be able to meet some or all of these sub-requirements, as the Secure SLC standard covers similar topics and ensures that the software is developed and maintained in a secure manner throughout its entire lifecycle1. However, this does not automatically make the entity PCI DSS compliant, as there are other requirements and controls that the entity must implement and validate, such as network security, access control, monitoring, and incident response4. Therefore, the correct answer is option B.

The other options are not true regarding the impact of using custom software that is compliant with the Secure SLC standard on the PCI DSS assessment. Option A is not true because, as explained above, the entity still has to comply with other PCI DSS requirements and controls that are not covered by the Secure SLC standard. Option C is not true because there is a positive impact to the entity, as it may help the entity to meet several requirements in Requirement 6 and to demonstrate that the custom software is secure and reliable. Option D is not true because the custom software cannot be excluded from the PCI DSS assessment, as it is part of the cardholder data environment (CDE) and it may store, process, or transmit cardholder data or sensitive authentication data. The entity must ensure that the custom software meets the PCI DSS requirements and controls that are applicable to it, and that the assessor validates its compliance4. References:

Software Security Framework Secure Software Life Cycle (Secure SLC) Standard

PCI Security Standards Council Publishes Version 1.1 of Secure Software Lifecycle (SLC) Standard and Program

PCI Security Standards Council Publishes Version 1.1 of Secure Software Standard and Program

PCI DSS v3.2.1

According to the PCI DSS v3.2.1 Quick Reference Guide1, the security protocol accepts only trusted keys. This is one of the requirements for ensuring secure encryption and authentication.

all network transmissions must be logged by an entity’s security information and event management (SIEM) system or equivalent tool, which means they should record all network events and activities related to cardholder data processing and transmission. This is one of the requirements for ensuring that network transmissions are monitored and audited.

According to the PCI DSS v3.2.1 Quick Reference Guide1, screening and background checks for personnel with access to the cardholder data environment are required, as they may pose a risk if they have compromised or stolen cardholder data in the past or present. This is one of the requirements for ensuring that personnel with access to cardholder data are qualified and trustworthy.

According to the PCI DSS v3.2.1 Quick Reference Guide1, active network connections are tracked so that invalid response traffic can be identified. This is one of the requirements for preventing replay attacks and ensuring secure communication.

According to the PCI DSS v3.2.1 Quick Reference Guide1, quarterly means occurring at some point in each quarter of a year, not at least once every 95 or 97 days. This is one of the requirements for ensuring that PCI DSS assessments are conducted on a regular basis.

According to the PCI DSS v3.2.1 Quick Reference Guide1, business facilities and system components can be sampled for testing during a PCI DSS assessment, as long as they are not critical components or components that are not in scope for testing. This is one of the requirements for ensuring that testing covers all relevant components and processes.

According to requirement 4, PAN must be protected with strong cryptography for transmission over private wireless networks, which means it should use encryption techniques such as WEP, WPA, WPA2, or TLS/SSL to prevent unauthorized access or interception of cardholder data over wireless networks. This is one of the requirements for ensuring that PAN is protected from unauthorized access or interception.

According to the PCI DSS v3.2.1 Quick Reference Guide1, pre-production environments that are located within the cardholder data environment can be used for testing, as long as they are not accessible from untrusted networks and are monitored for any changes or vulnerabilities. This is one of the requirements for ensuring that testing environments are isolated from production environments.

According to the PCI DSS v3.2.1 Quick Reference Guide1, devices are periodically inspected to detect unauthorized card stammers using physical inspection or other methods such as software-based tools or network-based tools (such as firewalls). This is one of the requirements for preventing card skimming attacks that could compromise cardholder data.

when PAN is sent over the Internet, PAN must be encrypted with strong cryptography, which means it should use encryption techniques such as WEP, WPA, WPA2, or TLS/SSL to prevent unauthorized access or interception. This is one of the requirements for ensuring that PAN is protected from unauthorized access or interception.

an entity can use both the Customized Approach and the Defined Approach to meet the same requirement, as long as it uses compensating controls to address any weaknesses or gaps inthe customized control. This is one of the requirements for ensuring that an entity can use both approaches when appropriate.

According to the PCI DSS v3.2.1 Quick Reference Guide1, installing one primary function per server is intended to prevent server functions with a lower security level from introducingsecurity weaknesses to higher-security functions on the same server. This is one of the requirements for ensuring that server functions are isolated from each other.

 One of the best practices for hardening a firewall is to disable any firewall functions that are not needed in production, such as unused services, ports, protocols, or features. This reduces the attack surface and minimizes the potential for exploitation. According to the PCI Card Production Logical Security Requirements, section 3.2.1, “The firewall must be configured to deny all traffic by default and allow only traffic that is explicitly required for the card production environment.” Furthermore, section 3.2.2 states, “The firewall must be configured to block all unnecessary services, ports, protocols, and IP addresses.” References: PCI Card Production Logical Security Requirements, Card Production Security Assessor - Logical - Credly

According to the PCI DSS v3.2.1 Quick Reference Guide1, the intent of assigning a risk ranking to vulnerabilities is to prioritize the highest risk items so they can be addressed more quickly, rather than ensuring all vulnerabilities are addressed within 30 days or replacing the need to quarterly ASV scans or ensuring that critical security patches are installed at least quarterly. This is one of the requirements for ensuring that vulnerabilities are identified and mitigated as soon as possible.